House in distress: Sell it off in an emergency for maintenance expenses
In recent developments, the Federal Association of German Employers' Associations (BDA) has put forth a series of proposals aimed at reforming the nursing care insurance system in Germany. These proposals have sparked debate, as they could potentially impact the lives of elderly people and their caregivers.
The BDA's key demands revolve around ensuring the financial sustainability of the nursing care insurance system. This could be achieved through adjustments in contributions or benefits. One such proposal is the suggestion that elderly people, if necessary, mortgage or sell their apartments or houses to finance assistance.
Another notable demand is the abolition of the relief allowance of 131 euros per month for those who need care and live at home. The BDA also proposes that in the first year of needing care, the care insurance should not provide any benefits. These measures, if implemented, could lead to a rise in the number of nursing home residents reliant on social assistance.
The BDA is also critical of the additional allowance of the long-term care insurance for nursing home residents, arguing that it serves to spare the income and assets of those affected and thus the inheritance. They further argue that the result of the IW study shows that people can bear even more costs themselves, with a partner or partner of a person in need of care only being left with enough to live just above the social assistance level.
The BDA's proposals also emphasise the need for more integration of professional nursing services combined with informal care to alleviate burdens on families. They support reforms that balance responsibilities between state, employers, and families, and propose promoting measures to support the workforce in nursing, such as better working conditions and training opportunities.
These reforms could impact elderly people by influencing the level and accessibility of nursing care services covered by insurance, as well as the financial contributions required from individuals, employers, and the state. For caregivers, these reforms could affect their workload and support structures, the recognition and possible compensation for informal caregiving, and access to professional healthcare support and resources.
The BDA's proposals have been met with criticism, as some argue they attack a principle of the German social state: small and medium incomes should be protected against social risks. The government's current grant of 0.5 billion euros for the long-term care insurance, in the form of a loan that has to be repaid, underscores the financial challenges facing the system.
Germany, considered the prototype of a "conservative welfare state", aims to secure the standard of living and protect against changes in life. The BDA's proposals, therefore, represent a significant shift in the country's approach to long-term care insurance, one that is currently under intense scrutiny and debate.
- The suggestions made by the BDA in the health-and-wellness sector, specifically nurse care insurance, have stirred up discussion in the general-news, as they may influence the lives of older individuals and their caretakers.
- Financing assistance for elderly people, one of the BDA's proposals, suggests that they could mortgage or sell their homes if necessary, a matter that raises concerns in the finance domain.
- In the realm of politics, the BDA's demand to abolish the relief allowance of 131 euros per month for home-bound individuals needing care has sparked criticism, as it could lead to a rise in nursing home residents relying on social assistance.
- The BDA's proposals in the business and industry sector focus on reforming the nursing care insurance system in a way that ensures its financial sustainability, while also promoting measures to support the nursing workforce, such as better working conditions and training opportunities.
